Simonton Street Beach (aka Simpson Street Pier area) is my top pick after hitting five Key West…read morespots it's the smallest public beach, but that makes it the best hidden gem. Tucked at the end of Simonton Street on the Gulf side, it's super convenient: steps from downtown, Duval Street, and the Historic Seaport, with calm, crystal-clear water perfect for swimming or jumping off the concrete pier into refreshing depths where fish swim right below. Locals love it (a friend showed me the ropes, and it's a frequent local fave), and no wonder stunning Gulf sunsets paint the sky orange-pink, soft sand, nearby beach bar for cheap drinks/snacks/chairs, plus restrooms and a boat ramp adding quirky charm. While other beaches can be rocky (water shoes needed), this one's smooth and effortless. Pure, low-key paradise that's close to town yet feels worlds away hands down the best little beach in Key West.

Secret beach tucked in between the Pier House and Hyatt Centric. Lagerheads Beach Bar is the host…read moreof this tiny gem. There is the beach bar which has a bathroom as well as lounge chair and umbrella rentals. There are also small chairs on the beach that are free to use when ordering from the bar. Watersports such as jet skis can be rented from this same area. There is a small pier which we saw people sitting on and jumping off of into the water.

This is one of the most amazing places I have ever seen! My husband & I decided we had to take a…read moreseaplane (Seaplane Adventures) to the Dry Tortugas while we were in Key West to celebrate our 25th anniversary because we didn't know when we would ever get the chance again. I am so glad we did!! After an incredibly stressful year, it was great to see my husband enjoying himself so much! This was definitely the highlight of his Key West trip! We were the second seaplane to land so we practically had the island to ourselves (other than the few people that had camped overnight). It was amazing wandering the fort, snorkeling (him, not me), and just enjoying the spectacular views with very few people around. If we get the chance to come back, we would definitely do it the same way!

Difficult to get to (take Seaplane adventures), but a gorgeous way to spend a day exploring the…read morefort, having a picnic with the tortugas and snorkeling ship wreck ruins. Theres a vibe here for sure and if youre sensitive to the paranormal, you'll definitely feel it. The park has a dark history for humanity and the folks who were forced to endure it. But today its the gorgeous national park with crystal clear water and beach time.

Awesome playground right on the beach (not close to the water) with bathrooms near by. The entire…read moreplayground is gated which makes it more of a gem. There are small shaded tables on the side inside the grounds to drop all the beach bags and coolers and most of the play equipment is for climbing and balancing. We arrived right before sun down and the water was choppy with the rising tide but it was such an amazing sight to see the fishing boats arriving back to shore.

Key West is not a beach destination namely because the island doesn't have any beaches. True facts…read more Clarence Higgs Memorial Beach is an artificial beach and is really the only beach on the island besides Fort Zachary Taylor Park. Clarence Higgs beach is more of your traditional beach vacation where you can rent umbrellas and towels, play beach volleyball (there are only two courts), rent kayaks and snorkeling gear. The downside is that it isn't as picturesque as Fort Zachary Taylor Park. But that park doesn't really have any amenities. Overall, it's a decent beach. As the only traditional beach vacation spot on the island, though, it's going to be on your Key West itinerary at some point I hope.

We really liked it here. Small yes. Not a place for a all day beach trip. But perfect for a beach…read morehang with friends and some drinks. There is a beach bar right there and lawn chairs and umbrellas for rent. Would say not really a location for children would stick with adults here. Clearest water we saw and definitely beautiful.

Beautiful public beach in Key West! Easy to get to, find parking, and clean public restrooms…read more Chairs/waterspouts available as rentals - a little pricey but worth it if you plan to spend a few hours.

This beach is tiny and full of gross seaweed. Maybe it's not always like that, but I wasn't getting…read morein that water. There is a little cage there and you can rent chairs and umbrellas.

It's more like a jetty. The beach part isn't very clean. However, right next to the beach, they…read morehave built a platform on which you can sit and enjoy as the wave hits your feet along the wall of the platform. The water is quite shallow and you can actually walk down a couple of feets. However, by the evening, the high tide takes over and the water level rises. A very good place to sit back, relax and enjoy the ocean. It is just one block away from the Southernmost point. However, it is not as crowded as the Southernmost point. There is a cafe nearby - Southernmost Beach Cafe - where you can have drinks and food. There are many more restaurants just one street away and if you are looking for fine dining, there is a Japanese restaurant Ambrosia, which we tried, and is really good.

Went to Highs Pier to view the sunrise on our last day in Key West. Easy to park. Long clean pier…read morewith benches. Beautiful view. Would recommend checking

During our four days in Key West during a 2022 cross country road trip, the Picante family enjoyed…read morea great Key West morning at Higgs beach. We arrived early and found parking near the children's playground area, and walked out onto the white sand beach with only a few other AM visitors. We did not utilize or investigate what looked like umbrellas and beach chairs for rent, and instead waded out into the bathtub temperature water with our masks and snorkels. The swim area stays shallow farther than we SoCal folks are used to in our beaches, and it is roughly enclosed by a break wall of sorts, and a long walking pier with stairs down into the water for access. Still plenty of small snapper, grouper, and other fish can be seen out near the structure of the pier and break wall. After a warm morning in the water, we left our towels on the beach and enjoyed a delicious lunch at Salute (see other review) before packing up and exploring the other great parts of Key West. We found this beach to be cleaner than Smathers beach, and maybe more laid back. Also of note: there was a marked sea turtle nest on the beach surrounded by caution tape and signage. Yet another wonder of the keys for us touristy visitors who live in Sunny SoCal with her cold California current ocean temps.

This is not a business, but rather an outer Key for boaters to anchor for a day in the sun and…read morewater. Bring a flotation device and float along the lazy river, or grab your beach chair and some sunscreen and catch some rays along the beach area. This is a beautiful place to spend a few relaxing hours by private or chartered boat. Pets are discouraged from being brought on shore as this is a protected wildlife sanctuary. There is a quick drop after about 15-20 feet from the beach depending on tides, so mid to larger size boats can anchor here. ABOUT BOCA GRANDE KEY: (Visit the government Website for more information) http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/zones/wmas/bocagrande.html

2018: July 3rd ... still quiet ... what an awesome experience with Mermaid Charters ... (captain…read moremike makes Boca Grande Key truly memorable). This was great for our kiddos (ages 4,5,6 - 7th birthday trip). Beautiful private little island and easy to get to!